• Paraffin is a common name for a group of high molecular weight alkane hydrocarbons with the general formula C_nH_2n+2, where n is greater than about 20, discovered by Carl Reichenbach.
• In British English, as well as most varieties of Commonwealth English, the fuel known in American English as kerosene is called paraffin oil (or just paraffin), and the solid forms of paraffin are called paraffin wax.
• Paraffin is also a technical name for an alkane in general, but in most cases it refers specifically to a linear, or normal alkane, while branched, or isoalkanes are also called isoparaffins. Compare olefin. (Latin parum (= barely) + affinis with the meaning here of "lacking affinity", or "lacking reactivity")

An alkane in organic chemistry simply put means that Reece has a severe Odour problem. ... Hydrocarbons are refined at oil refineries and chemical plants In chemistry, a hydrocarbon is any chemical compound that consists only of the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). ... Carl Ludwig von Reichenbach Baron Dr. Carl (Karl) Ludwig von Reichenbach (February 12, 1788- January 19, 1869) was a recognized chemist, metallurgist, naturalist and philosopher, a member of the prestigious Prussian Academy of Sciences. ... British English (BrE) is a term used to differentiate the form of the English language used in the United Kingdom from other forms of the English language used elsewhere. ... Commonwealth English is intended as a collective term for the perceived standard English language used in the Commonwealth of Nations1, applying in theory to Australian English, British English, Caribbean English, Canadian English, Hiberno-English (Irish English)2, Hong Kong English3, Indian English (includes Pakistani English), formal Malaysia English, New Zealand... American English (AmE) is the dialect of the English language used mostly in the United States of America. ... Russian kerosene lamp Kerosene or paraffin oil (British English, not to be confused with the waxy solid also called paraffin) is a colorless flammable hydrocarbon liquid. ... Wax has traditionally referred to a substance that is secreted by bees (beeswax) and used by them in constructing their honeycombs. ... An alkane in organic chemistry is a type of hydrocarbon in which the molecule has the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms and so has no double bonds (they are saturated). ... An alkane in organic chemistry is a type of hydrocarbon in which the molecule has the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms and so has no double bonds (they are saturated). ... A synonym for the more widely accepted term, alkene. ... Look up affinity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary The word affinity (Lat. ... Reactivity refers to the rate at which a chemical substance tends to undergo a chemical reaction in time. ...

Physical and chemical properties

It is mostly found as a white, odorless, tasteless, waxy solid, with a typical melting point between about 47°C and 65°C. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in ether, benzene, and certain esters. Paraffin is unaffected by most common chemical reagents, but burns readily. Diethyl ether, also known as ether and ethoxyethane, is a clear, colorless, and highly flammable liquid with a low boiling point and a typical smell. ... Benzene, also known as C6H6, PhH, and benzol, is an organic chemical compound which is a colorless and flammable liquid with a pleasant, sweet smell. ... General formula of an ester of a carboxylic acid. ... A reagent is any substance used in a chemical reaction. ... Combustion or burning is a chemical process, an exothermic reaction between a substance (the fuel) and a gas (the oxidizer), usually O2, to release heat. ...

Uses

• Candlemaking
• Coatings for waxed paper or cloth.
• Coating for many kinds of hard cheese, like Edam cheese.
• Preparing specimens for histology.
• Solid propellant for hybrid rockets
• Sealing jars, cans, and bottles
• In dermatology, as an emollient (moisturiser)
• Surfing, for grip on surfboards as a component of surfwax.
• The primary component of glide wax, used on skis and snowboards.
• As a food additive, a glazing agent with E number E905
• The paraffin test is used in forensics to detect granules of gunpowder in the hand of a shooting suspect.

Food-grade paraffin wax is used in some candies to make them look shiny. Although edible, it is nondigestible; it passes right through the body without being broken down. Non-food grade paraffin wax can contain oils and other impurities which may be toxic or harmful. A lit candle. ... Cheese is a solid food made from the curdled milk of cows, goats, sheep, or other mammals. ... Edam is a Dutch cheese that is traditionally sold as spheres with pale yellow interior and a coat of red or yellow paraffin. ... A thin section of lung tissue stained with hematoxylin and eosin. ... A hybrid rocket propulsion system typically comprises a solid fuel and a liquid or gas oxidizer. ... Emollients soften skin (and moisturisers add moisture). ... Surfing outside Kaneohe Bay, Hawai‘i. ... Surfwax or more commonly surfboard wax is a formulation of natural and synthetic wax for application to the deck of a surfboard, bodyboard, or skimboard, to keep you from slipping off your board when paddling out or riding a wave. ... Ski wax is a material applied to the bottom of skis or snowboards to help them perform on snow. ... A twin-tip shaped downhill ski. ... A snowboard with boot bindings A snowboard is a board ridden by a rider in the sport of snowboarding. ... Food additives are substances added to food to preserve it or improve its flavor and appearance. ... Glazing agents, or polishing agents, are food additives providing shiny appeareance or protective coating to foods. ... For the mathematical constant see: E (mathematical constant). ... Forensic science (often shortened to forensics) is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system. ... Gunpowder whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a substance which burns very rapidly and is used as a propellant in firearms. ... A shelf filled with candies Candy is often used as a synonym for the more general term confectionery in North America, whereas the word has become archaic in most parts of the United Kingdom and survives today almost exclusively in the term candy floss. In some areas, notably Scotland, candy...

Impure mixtures of mostly paraffin wax are used in wax baths for beauty and therapy purposes. Many see natural beauty in the folded petals of a rose. ... Look up Therapy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Therapy (in Greek: θεραπεία) or treatment is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a diagnosis. ...

Paraffin wax is not used much to make original models for casting, as it is relatively brittle at room temperature and usually cannot be cold-carved without excessive chipping and breaking. Soft, pliable waxes such as beeswax are preferred for modelling. One half of a bronze mold for casting a socketed spear head dated to the period 1400-1000 BC. This article is about the manufacturing process. ... Beeswax is a product from a bee hive. ...

Paraffin is mostly used for candle wax.

See also

• paraffin oil
• mineral oil